Jilin promotes tourism in Hangzhou

Jilin held a promotional meeting of its ice and snow tours in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province on September 6, with an aim to attracting tourists from the Yangtze River Delta region, where winter is generally a lot milder than in Jilin.

Yang Andi, Director of Jilin Provincial Tourism Development Commission, gave an overall introduction to the province’s ice and snow tourism.

Jilin Governor Liu Guozhong and Zhejiang Governor Yuan Jiajun pressed the buttons to start an“Exchange of 10 Million Tourists”program between Jilin and Zhejiang on the occasion.

Jilin’s Executive Deputy Governor Lin Wu spoke at the meeting.

The two provinces are complementary in tourism resources and markets. 

At the promotional meeting, Jilin tourism authorities announced four measures to attract tourists from Zhejiang and its neighboring Shanghai and Jiangsu: First, from November 1 ,2017 to April 30, 2018, tourists from the three jurisdictions can enjoy a 50-percent discount off entry ticket prices of all AAAA- and AAAAA-level scenic areas in Jilin; second, a 10-million-yuan fund will be set up to award travel agencies who contribute most to Jilin’s ice and snow tourism growth; third, Jilin will also give 10,000 yuan to every chartered flight bound for its tourist destinations; fourth, tourist complaints will be handled within 24 hours after they are being made and results will be made known within seven working days.

Prefecture-level cities of Jilin also recommended their key tourism elements at the meeting.

Jilin City recommended its rime scenery, Baishan city its skiing facilities, Yanbian its Korean folk customs, Songyuan its Chagan Lake winter fishing and Changbaishan its ice and snow wonders.

The cities also took advantage of the promotional meeting to seek cooperation with their counterparts in Zhejiang.

An art performance, including dances characteristic of northeast China, was also staged.

“We cannot see snow here (in Hangzhou). I will visit Jilin along with my family this winter,”a local participant Mr. Lin said. He thought the promotional meeting had fully showcased the charm of ice and snow tours in Jilin.

“Both the indoor promotion and the outdoor exhibitions of Jilin’s landscape and folk customs are wonderful,”said another participant Zhao Jinping.

Ice and snow tours are not only of high grade but also industrialized, said Zhao.

Car models of Changchun, ula grass from Jilin, brooms from Siping, farmers’paintings from Liaoyuan, wine from Tonghua, wild mountain ginseng and cultural products made of variegated carp from Songyuan, reed painting from Baicheng, Korean delicacies from Yanbian and Tianchi Lake of Changbai Mountain were all displayed at the exhibitions, attracting the attention of those in Zhejiang’s tourism sector.

“Zhejiang’s tourists have been very interested in Jilin’s ice and snow tours and this promotional meeting strengthens my determination to organize them on such tours,” said Huang Lihua, vice general manager of Spring and Autumn Travel Agency of Deqing County, Zhejiang. He had a hunch that ice and snow tours to Jilin were set to be popular among local tourists this winter with the discounted prices announced at the promotional meeting.

Nearly 500 people including leading government officials from Jilin and Zhejiang, tourism professionals from east China and reporters, attended the meeting.